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The meanings and the use of colors:
Black
In Japan an inky black color is made from the
pitch and soot of burned pine trees
Women in India use kohl, a black cosmetic preparation, to darken and outline the rims of their eyelids
Native Americans used black body paint to signify death.
Blue
The Ashanti people of Africa wear blue as the color of mourning
.
Since 1748 navy blue has been the color used by the British for their navy uniform
.
Ultramarine blue was the first made by grinding precious lapis lazuli stones
.
Blue is the national color of Scotland.
Native Americans wore blue paint to show trouble.
Brown
European artist painted many master pieces with a brown pigment made from grinding the remains of Egyptians mummies.
White
In Japan oyster shells are aged for least 20 years before being crushed into a white pigment used to paint the faces of dolls
.
In the United States white is worn by brides because it signifies purity
.
In India white is the color of mourning
.
In Spain women wear lace mantillas of white when attending a bullfight.
Red
Explorers from Portugal used a red and purple pigment that the South American natives found in the Brazil wood tree. The Portuguese called the area Tierra de Brazil, which was later shortened to Brazil
.
In Thailand, mothers dress their babies in headgear with bright red pompoms in order to attract good fortune
.
Most Asians believe that red chases away evil spirits
.
Natives of North America were called red skins by the Europeans because they painted their bodies for tribal rituals and ceremonies. They believed that red was the color of life
.
Many Asians celebrate Chinese New Year by hanging a red banner on their front door
.
Tibetan monks were red-brown robes. The color is made from roots, bark, and wild rhubarb that grow in the area
.
A red pigment used in Japan is made from the cochineal insect.
Purple
Sea mollusks living around the Canary Islands and near Oaxaca. Mexico produces purple.
Yellow
* A highly prized yellow substance called saffron is obtained from the stigma of the crocus flower. It is used both as a dye and as a seasoning for food. The orange robes of some Buddhist monks of china are dyed with saffron
Black
In Japan an inky black color is made from the
pitch and soot of burned pine trees
Women in India use kohl, a black cosmetic preparation, to darken and outline the rims of their eyelids
Native Americans used black body paint to signify death.
Blue
The Ashanti people of Africa wear blue as the color of mourning
.
Since 1748 navy blue has been the color used by the British for their navy uniform
.
Ultramarine blue was the first made by grinding precious lapis lazuli stones
.
Blue is the national color of Scotland.
Native Americans wore blue paint to show trouble.
Brown
European artist painted many master pieces with a brown pigment made from grinding the remains of Egyptians mummies.
White
In Japan oyster shells are aged for least 20 years before being crushed into a white pigment used to paint the faces of dolls
.
In the United States white is worn by brides because it signifies purity
.
In India white is the color of mourning
.
In Spain women wear lace mantillas of white when attending a bullfight.
Red
Explorers from Portugal used a red and purple pigment that the South American natives found in the Brazil wood tree. The Portuguese called the area Tierra de Brazil, which was later shortened to Brazil
.
In Thailand, mothers dress their babies in headgear with bright red pompoms in order to attract good fortune
.
Most Asians believe that red chases away evil spirits
.
Natives of North America were called red skins by the Europeans because they painted their bodies for tribal rituals and ceremonies. They believed that red was the color of life
.
Many Asians celebrate Chinese New Year by hanging a red banner on their front door
.
Tibetan monks were red-brown robes. The color is made from roots, bark, and wild rhubarb that grow in the area
.
A red pigment used in Japan is made from the cochineal insect.
Purple
Sea mollusks living around the Canary Islands and near Oaxaca. Mexico produces purple.
Yellow
* A highly prized yellow substance called saffron is obtained from the stigma of the crocus flower. It is used both as a dye and as a seasoning for food. The orange robes of some Buddhist monks of china are dyed with saffron